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Old 12-18-2012, 11:54 AM   #51
dcorn
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Nice, thanks for the write-up. I hate the stock high beam DRL's, so this is a great solution. I've wanted to be able to turn on the fogs with the parking lights, but honestly this is a better solution for visibility. I guess it'll test the longetivity of my Nokya 3000k foglights...
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Old 12-19-2012, 11:18 AM   #52
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Bluefoton View Post
For those of us who wish to keep DRLs, this has a lot of merit. One issue with the Imprezas is that the DRL resistor ends up providing too low of a voltage for the highbeam bulbs, which makes them run too cold. As a result, the filament vapours don't re-deposit themselves on the filament (as they do in halogen bulbs), but simply coat the glass, which drastically cuts the lifetime of the bulbs. It's easy to spot a yellow deposit on high beam bulbs after quite a short time of using them as DRLs...
Just discovered this thread, cheers OP!
Will be doing this soon, and then i'll give the HIR high beam bulbs another trial, as Bluefoton said (very well) the stock DRL/high beam bulb life is shortened and the output reduced with the OEM setup. Previously, my HIRs didn't last long at all.
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Old 01-06-2013, 06:05 PM   #53
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Hmmmm. Going to give this try on my xv crosstrek. I haven't looked to see what colors I have in terms of wires but, how would I know which wire to tap into on the fog light wire harness, and the resistor side harness ? Thanks for someone's help. OP, car looks great.
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Old 02-09-2013, 10:37 AM   #54
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Amazing I've spent the last few days considering if I could find a solution to do this exact mod. Then I find this thread. To the OP thanks a lot this will save me a lot of time. The DRLs are lame.

On a side note To even more complicate things my factory anti theft requires that I flash the highbeams to start the car. It's not a big deal I suppose but whenever I start my car there are multiple lights going on and it's annoying. I need an idea for that too the only one I have is an aftermarket alarm.


Edit: mod worked flawlessly

Last edited by 2BadBeast; 02-09-2013 at 06:28 PM.
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Old 02-11-2013, 09:16 PM   #55
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Bluefoton View Post
For those of us who wish to keep DRLs, this has a lot of merit. One issue with the Imprezas is that the DRL resistor ends up providing too low of a voltage for the highbeam bulbs, which makes them run too cold. As a result, the filament vapours don't re-deposit themselves on the filament (as they do in halogen bulbs), but simply coat the glass, which drastically cuts the lifetime of the bulbs. It's easy to spot a yellow deposit on high beam bulbs after quite a short time of using them as DRLs...
This. Listen to this guy.

My high beams have gone yellow and died only 2 months later.
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Old 02-14-2013, 04:00 PM   #56
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I checked the wiring diagram for my 07 and this should work on the 07 as well. I'll probably try it this week (or next). On the 07s this frees up your lowbeams for an HID install without interference from the DRL's but lets you keep DRL's through your fogs. Keeps it legal and safe.

I'm going to do this for the connections though instead of using wire taps, I think it does less permanent damage to the factory wiring harness. It's also easily removable if you use pigtails with plugs.


Edit: Just realized that power looks like it goes to the left fog on the the 07 then to the right, so I guess I would tap into the left fog light plug instead of the right? Attached the diagram...


Can someone post the 08+ foglight wiring diagram so I can compare the two?

Last edited by wrxposer; 02-14-2013 at 04:17 PM. Reason: Added request for diagram
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Old 02-19-2013, 12:37 AM   #57
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Great mod, did it yesterday and love it

Poser, here's what I have for the 08 front fog wiring:



-SJ
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Old 02-19-2013, 07:50 PM   #58
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thanks for posting wiring diagram, i don't know what I was thinking anyways, it shouldn't matter which fog light you apply power to, as stated earlier in the thread they are wired in parrallel

nice to see the wiring is essentially the same. Will be doing this and my STi/TSX-R HID retrofit at the same time on my 07.

Last edited by wrxposer; 04-08-2013 at 06:38 AM.
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Old 02-20-2013, 06:53 PM   #59
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super rad - this should work with a non-wrx, correct?
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Old 02-20-2013, 06:57 PM   #60
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Quote:
Originally Posted by jeffoppido View Post
super rad - this should work with a non-wrx, correct?
Yes. it worked on my XV crosstrek. Which is an impreza which is your car.
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Old 03-18-2013, 09:06 PM   #61
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Having the fogs running on the reduced voltage intended for the factory DRL setup, does this make them appreciably dimmer and reduce their lifespan like it does to the high beam halogens? Looking forward to this mod but just trying to weigh the pros and cons.. Thanks peeps.
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Old 03-18-2013, 09:12 PM   #62
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Quote:
Originally Posted by tenaciousZ View Post
Having the fogs running on the reduced voltage intended for the factory DRL setup, does this make them appreciably dimmer and reduce their lifespan like it does to the high beam halogens? Looking forward to this mod but just trying to weigh the pros and cons.. Thanks peeps.
No. You are misunderstanding. You are bypassing the RESISTOR BOX so you a putting all 12v power to the fogs like normal.

I've done exactly as per his diy, and no issues so far on my XV
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Old 03-18-2013, 09:30 PM   #63
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Nice write up. Doing this as soon as it gets nice out.
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Old 03-18-2013, 10:50 PM   #64
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Ok I see now, the modded circuit doesn't get stepped down (which happens at the resistor) and power is redirected to the fogs. Brilliant.

Quote:
Originally Posted by njwrxman21 View Post

No. You are misunderstanding. You are bypassing the RESISTOR BOX so you a putting all 12v power to the fogs like normal.

I've done exactly as per his diy, and no issues so far on my XV
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Old 03-19-2013, 06:25 PM   #65
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instructions not clear enough; got my penis caught in the serpentine belt
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Old 03-19-2013, 08:29 PM   #66
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instructions not clear enough; got my penis caught in the serpentine belt
The instructions clearly said to stick it in the timing belt. Learn to read :rules:
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Old 03-19-2013, 09:10 PM   #67
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done?
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Old 03-25-2013, 11:19 PM   #68
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Just did this with a fresh install of HID's (4300k) in the heads and fogs and boy does it look amazing! Thanks for the easy tip which gave me that look I was going for! Will def burn out the HID's in the fogs faster but who cares...Beauty is PAIN!
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Old 03-26-2013, 11:56 AM   #69
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Thanks for the work to figure this out. It makes perfect sense conceptually, but I would have never really gotten to the conclusion you did. Now I can replace the 9005 bulbs that have browned.

Obligatory eye candy (if you're wondering: Ford Fusion fog projector and OEM H11 halogen bulb).


Last edited by P.Rico; 04-14-2013 at 07:11 PM.
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Old 03-26-2013, 02:20 PM   #70
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Just wondering about this mod... I was thinking about doing this, until I remembered that its illegal to use fog lights in the city (where I live, at least). I think I will probably just be disabling my DRL's and leaving my headlights on all the time. Any better ideas?

Having my low beams as my DRL's seems redundant.
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Old 03-26-2013, 02:37 PM   #71
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Quote:
Originally Posted by XsoberX View Post
Just wondering about this mod... I was thinking about doing this, until I remembered that its illegal to use fog lights in the city (where I live, at least). I think I will probably just be disabling my DRL's and leaving my headlights on all the time. Any better ideas?

Having my low beams as my DRL's seems redundant.
Are DRL's required in your locale?

If so, you could put an LED in each headlamp somewhere as a "city light", or mount a set of LED's in your grill somewhere.

Another option would be to run with your parking lights on, so you're not burning up your low beam for no reason. You could also replace the amber bulb with this LED to have white LED "DRL's" while still keeping the turn signal "legal" (assuming the legal color is amber).

http://www.fastwrx.com/coledtusibu.html
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Old 04-08-2013, 06:18 AM   #72
wrxposer
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Ok in preparation for doing my HID retrofit I tried this mod on my 07 2.5i. It did not work. I ended up with my fogs and low beams acting as DRLs but very dim.

Has anybody tried this on one of the pre-08 models that use the low beams for DRLs?

I unplugged the DRL resistor, tapped the power (Yellow with red stripe in my case) going into the DRL resistor plug, connected it to the fog light power (white with black stripe) at the fog light plug.

Any thoughts? Can someone post up the 08+ headlight diagram so I can compare the two. Not sure why the fogs and the low beams are now acting as DRLs and why the they are so dim.

this is is the 07 headlight diagram.
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Old 04-08-2013, 07:49 PM   #73
wrxposer
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Ok my brain hurts from studying this wiring diagram but I now think that this method is impossible with the pre 08 models that use low beams as DRLs. I think I'll either be disabling my DRLs all together by leaving the resistor unplugged or deleting the resistor leaving my low beam HIDs on all of the time but at least at the proper voltage.

Still interested to see the 08+ wiring diagram though to see what the difference is in the function of the DRL relay. Can't find one online anywhere without buying a full service manual.
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Old 04-10-2013, 04:35 PM   #74
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Thank you REBinc for this awesome write up!

I have contemplated some of the earlier methods posted here, but this mod kills two birds with one stone; no more DRL's, and fogs on with only running lights.

Awesome!

I didn't even log on today searching for this. I was at my wits end reading through the audio FAQs for the last hour or so and found this thread using the search function attempting to answer the question " Is there a factory subwoofer harness buried within my '11 wrx somewhere?!!!"

uhhh hem....never did find my answer
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Old 04-13-2013, 05:19 PM   #75
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Quote:
Originally Posted by CRUZTAKER View Post
Thank you REBinc for this awesome write up!

I have contemplated some of the earlier methods posted here, but this mod kills two birds with one stone; no more DRL's, and fogs on with only running lights.

Awesome!

I didn't even log on today searching for this. I was at my wits end reading through the audio FAQs for the last hour or so and found this thread using the search function attempting to answer the question " Is there a factory subwoofer harness buried within my '11 wrx somewhere?!!!"

uhhh hem....never did find my answer

Wow...easy-squeezy from under the car.
Took longer to get the ramps down from the barn than to do this mod.

Gonna do the Outback tomorrow.

Here is another pic from the passenger side, underneath, 16awg jump wire, inline spliced from green DRL wire to white/black fog wire, leaving the DRL connector disconnected and fog connected to complete.

[/url]
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